Finance InternAt — Elbi of America

A part-time Finance intern to help with the following tasks: 

• Review the current SKU catalog & digitalize into a database:
• Items no longer active or sold
• SKUs replaced by new vendor or part number
• Duplicates or inconsistent naming conventions
• Cross-reference product data with vendor lists, sales history, and internal documentation.
• Create a tracking file summarizing findings and recommendations for SKU relevance.
• Coordinate with purchasing and sales teams to confirm product line changes.
• Support documentation and organization of product master data in Excel or ERP system.

Tasks:

Strategic Pricing & Competitive Analysis

• Conduct SKU\u2011level landed cost and gross margin analysis for water connector product lines
• Perform competitor benchmarking and price positioning analysis
• Build pricing models and recommend pricing adjustments supported by financial rationale

FP&A Reporting and Analysis

• Prepare weekly KPI and deal performance summaries
• Analyze margin variance and identify pricing or cost leakage
• Support divisional performance reporting and ad\u2011hoc analysis

Pricing Governance & Margin Review

• Assist with price builds and pricing validation
• Review discount structures and margin thresholds
• Document pricing assumptions and risks

Executive Communication

• Develop PowerPoint presentations summarizing analytical findings
• Present insights to FP&A leadership and cross\u2011functional teams

Training:

To help the intern achieve the proposed learning outcomes I will:

1. Provide a structured orientation during the intern’s first day covering company overview, FP&A responsibilities, expectations, confidentiality, and required software or data systems
2. Conduct daily check-in meetings 10-15 minutes after the start of each shift to outline priorities, answer questions and provide real-time guidance
3. Hold weekly progress and mentorship meetings (30-45 minutes to review deliverables, evaluate analytical accuracy, discuss challenges, teach new concepts and reinforce professional development)
4. Training the intern on ERP export handling, data cleaning techniques, financial modeling, and catalog analysis using hands-on walkthroughs and supervised practice session during the first three weeks
5. Provide ongoing one-on-one coaching on pricing models, margin logic, product research methodology, cost structure interpretation, and presentation formatting
6. Facilitate cross-department collaboration, introducing the intern to sales, operations, and accounting contacts for data gathering consultations and product research support.
7. Offer structured written feedback on major assignments such as the Master Catalog Database, Activity Report, substitutive Mapping, and Price Alignment Analysis
8. Conduct Final review and exit interview to evaluate the intern’s performance conform mastery of learning outcomes and provide career mentorship

By the end of the internship, the student will be able to:

1. Apply Financial Analysis and Modeling Techniques
   Analyze SKU\u2011level financial data, calculate landed cost and gross margin, evaluate pricing effectiveness, and build spreadsheet\u2011based financial models to support pricing and performance decisions.
2. Perform FP&A\u2011Style Variance and Profitability Analysis
   Identify margin deterioration, pricing variance, and cost drivers; explain variances using financial logic; and assess implications for revenue and profitability.
3. Develop Pricing and Cost Strategy Insight
   Apply pricing theory, competitive benchmarking, markup logic, and margin thresholds to evaluate and recommend list price changes.
4. Demonstrate Business Partnering and Communication Skills
   Translate quantitative analysis into executive\u2011ready presentations and collaborate with sales, operations, and accounting stakeholders.
5. Exhibit Professional Judgment and Independent Work Management
   Manage recurring deliverables, document assumptions, validate data accuracy, escalate risks, and reflect on learning through weekly academic check\u2011ins.

Schedule:

15 Weeks (8 hours per week on Flexible Schedule)

(1/19 – 5/8 CSUF Spring Semester)

Weeks 1–3 | Strategic Pricing Initiative (Flagship Project)

• Competitive landscape analysis (water connectors)
• Landed cost and gross margin modeling
• Pricing recommendations and draft presentation

Weeks 4–10 | FP&A Operating Cadence

• Weekly KPI and deal reporting
• Margin and profitability variance analysis
• Pricing governance and model support
• Mid\u2011internship academic reflection

Weeks 11–15 | Ownership, Insight, and Communication

• Division\u2011level performance summaries
• Independent FP&A insight project
• Final executive presentation and internship portfolio